Kukec's People: Elgin chiropractic doctor also record-setting weightlifter
When Thomas Mitchell of Hampshire was younger, he took up weightlifting to get stronger so he could play football. He enjoyed the weightlifting so much, he entered competitions.
Now Mitchell, a chiropractic doctor and founder of the Chicago Institute for Health and Wellness in Elgin, has broken records. During the recent American Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation competition, Mitchell broke the federation's world record when he bench pressed 485 pounds in the 198-pound weight class.
Winning is just one aspect for Mitchell. "What means even more to me is to show my kids that you can work hard every day, do it right, don't take any short cuts and you can accomplish anything," said Mitchell, 39.
He has been weightlifting since he was 12 and won various titles while attending high school in Dunkirk, New York, and later State University of New York at Fredonia. While at chiropractic school, he participated in a research study on backs and an MRI showed he had some herniated discs without symptoms. He decided to change the way he trained for his competitions to keep his back safe and healthier, he said.
Now his sons often come with him to watch him train. Mitchell enjoys teaching them how to do a sport properly and without drugs. "I want to show them that you can make sacrifices in life and you can accomplish a lot," he said.
In the meantime, Mitchell plans to open his second office inside Lifezone 360, an indoor sports complex in West Dundee, where he will focus on sports training and wellness.
In coming weeks, Mitchell will turn 40 and plans to compete in the master's division of the American Drug-Free Powerlifting Federation competition in October. "There are other federations out there and I'd like to go after new titles," he said. "The most important thing is to keep my back and physical being healthy while I compete."
<h3 class="briefHead">Talking shop with Trump </h3>
Matrix 4 Inc. CEO Patricia Miller, CEO of Woodstock-based Matrix 4 Inc., recently was in Washington, D.C. to meet with President Donald Trump to discuss how some regulations are harming small manufacturers and their ability to create jobs. She said some regulations remain as obstacles to manufacturers' success. "We are optimistic about the future. However, we know there is much work to be done, not only on regulatory reform but also on infrastructure investment, workforce development and comprehensive tax reform," she said.
<h3 class="briefHead">CEO to talk in Naperville</h3>
Kelly Douglas, co-CEO of Naperville-based Itzy Ritzy, will share her story about founding and growing the Naperville-based juvenile products company at the membership luncheon of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce on April 24. It starts at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Lisle/Naperville in Lisle. She leads the company with her husband, Brian Douglas. She will be providing an insider's look on how to strategically connect with your target demographic via social media and convert excitement into sales.
<h3 class="briefHead">FastTracks</h3>
• Elise Couston of Buffalo Grove and Adam Marshall of Barrington, both senior managing directors at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank in Chicago, received the 2016 Largest Industrial Investment Sale Transaction award from The Chicago Chapter of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors at the group's event in Rosemont.
• Kerilyn M. Johnson was promoted to vice president, general counsel and secretary at Oak Brook-based Ace Hardware Corp. She joined Ace in 2013 as senior corporate counsel and was promoted to assistant general counsel in 2015. Before Ace, she worked at Midas International, 3Com Corp. and Motorola Inc. ... Also, Mark Spanswick is the new president and general manager of Ace Wholesale Holdings LLC. Before Ace, he worked in various leadership positions at W.W. Grainger.
• Lisa Hartkopf of Inverness is the new chairwoman of Chicago-based Illinois CPA Society.
• Drue Stoehr of Lake Bluff is the new vice president at Morgan/Harbour Construction in Willowbrook.
• Executive Director Lula S. Cassidy and Associate Director DeAnn Wagner of the Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau were in Springfield to accept an award for the bureau. The 2016-2017 Greater St. Charles, Illinois Visitors Guide was awarded best visitor publication at the Illinois Governor's Conference on Travel and Tourism.
• There's more to business than just the bottom line. We want to tell you about the people who make business work. Send news about people in business to akukec@dailyherald.com. Follow Anna Marie Kukec on LinkedIn and Facebook and as AMKukec on Twitter.